Abstract
Introduction: As part of the planning process for a larger survey study to examine factors affecting employers' intention to hire and hiring of people with disabilities, a series of three semi-structured focus groups were held with key hiring decision makers, such as Human Resources directors, Chief Operating Officers (COOs), or Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of small, medium, and large Seattle area companies. Aim The chief goals of the focus groups were to elicit and refine the participants' beliefs, normative influences, and perceived control relative to hiring workers with disabilities. Method: Narrative data obtained from the focus group discussion were examined using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to identify themes expressed by the focus group participants within the context of company size. Results: Themes did vary by company size, but a prevailing concern across all companies related to questions about the efficiency/effectiveness of contact with vocational rehabilitation agencies. For both small- and mid-sized companies, there was a belief that people with disabilities could not do the work or were somehow less qualified. For large companies, convincing departmental and team managers that outreaching workers with disabilities would be a worthwhile hiring practice remained a challenge. Conclusion: The themes derived from this study can be used to help occupational rehabilitation professionals develop educational and marketing interventions to improve employers' attitudes toward hiring and retaining individuals with disabilities.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 420-426 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2010 Dec 1 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Rehabilitation
- Occupational Therapy
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Understanding employer's hiring intentions in relation to qualified workers with disabilities : Preliminary findings. / Fraser, Robert T.; Johnson, Kurt; Hebert, James; Ajzen, Icek; Copeland, Jana; Brown, Pat; Chan, Fong.
In: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, Vol. 20, No. 4, 01.12.2010, p. 420-426.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding employer's hiring intentions in relation to qualified workers with disabilities
T2 - Preliminary findings
AU - Fraser, Robert T.
AU - Johnson, Kurt
AU - Hebert, James
AU - Ajzen, Icek
AU - Copeland, Jana
AU - Brown, Pat
AU - Chan, Fong
PY - 2010/12/1
Y1 - 2010/12/1
N2 - Introduction: As part of the planning process for a larger survey study to examine factors affecting employers' intention to hire and hiring of people with disabilities, a series of three semi-structured focus groups were held with key hiring decision makers, such as Human Resources directors, Chief Operating Officers (COOs), or Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of small, medium, and large Seattle area companies. Aim The chief goals of the focus groups were to elicit and refine the participants' beliefs, normative influences, and perceived control relative to hiring workers with disabilities. Method: Narrative data obtained from the focus group discussion were examined using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to identify themes expressed by the focus group participants within the context of company size. Results: Themes did vary by company size, but a prevailing concern across all companies related to questions about the efficiency/effectiveness of contact with vocational rehabilitation agencies. For both small- and mid-sized companies, there was a belief that people with disabilities could not do the work or were somehow less qualified. For large companies, convincing departmental and team managers that outreaching workers with disabilities would be a worthwhile hiring practice remained a challenge. Conclusion: The themes derived from this study can be used to help occupational rehabilitation professionals develop educational and marketing interventions to improve employers' attitudes toward hiring and retaining individuals with disabilities.
AB - Introduction: As part of the planning process for a larger survey study to examine factors affecting employers' intention to hire and hiring of people with disabilities, a series of three semi-structured focus groups were held with key hiring decision makers, such as Human Resources directors, Chief Operating Officers (COOs), or Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of small, medium, and large Seattle area companies. Aim The chief goals of the focus groups were to elicit and refine the participants' beliefs, normative influences, and perceived control relative to hiring workers with disabilities. Method: Narrative data obtained from the focus group discussion were examined using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to identify themes expressed by the focus group participants within the context of company size. Results: Themes did vary by company size, but a prevailing concern across all companies related to questions about the efficiency/effectiveness of contact with vocational rehabilitation agencies. For both small- and mid-sized companies, there was a belief that people with disabilities could not do the work or were somehow less qualified. For large companies, convincing departmental and team managers that outreaching workers with disabilities would be a worthwhile hiring practice remained a challenge. Conclusion: The themes derived from this study can be used to help occupational rehabilitation professionals develop educational and marketing interventions to improve employers' attitudes toward hiring and retaining individuals with disabilities.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79951726892&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79951726892&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10926-009-9220-1
DO - 10.1007/s10926-009-9220-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 19936892
AN - SCOPUS:79951726892
VL - 20
SP - 420
EP - 426
JO - Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation
JF - Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation
SN - 1053-0487
IS - 4
ER -